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Born and raised in Peoria, Illinois, Brianna Thomas grew up surrounded by music. Ms.Thomas' father, Charlie Thomas, influenced her with his own unique talents as a vocalist and percussionist. At age six, she made her singing debut with her father's band, performing a duet rendition of the Jazz classic, "What a Wonderful World." Just shy of her teens Ms. Thomas was noticed by local Jazz musician John Hardesty.

Since graduating college in 2011, Ms. Thomas has performed with many jazz greats including Clark Terry, Wycliffe Gordon, Houston Person, Mulgrew Miller, Wynton Marsalis, Russell Malone, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, Kurt Elling, Michael Feinstein and longtime hero Dianne Reeves. Ms.Thomas also continues to perform world-wide for venues such as Jazz At Lincoln Center, Smoke Jazz Club, Ginny's Supper Club, Minton's, JALC Doha Qatar, The Apollo and the prestigious Montreaux, Umbria, Bern, and Sochi Jazz Festivals. Ms. Thomas was a 2014 musical ambassador touring South East Asia for the "American Music Abroad" program, as a guest vocalist with The Amigos Band - singing folk, bluegrass, gospel and jazz. She teaches with JALC's Jazz For Young People Program to educate students in New York City School’s about the importance of Jazz in American History and Today.

Ms. Thomas released her debut album You Must Believe in Love on Sound on Purpose records in 2014 featuring Ulysses Owens and Drums, Allyn Johnson on piano, and Yasushi Nakamura on bass, With special guests including Russell Malone (guitar), Marcus Printup (trumpet) Wycliff Gordon (trombone), Nick Grinder (Trombone), Tivon Pennicott (tenor sax) and Riza Printup (harp).